CHOIR’S SPECTACULAR RESURRECTION IN EASTER PASSION
Melbourne Bach Choir, soloists & orchestra’s stunning April festive feast!
The Melbourne Bach Choir presents an Easter ‘feast’ over 15-16 April when it performs three stunning, stirring concerts – both choral and instrumental, epic and intimate – at the Melbourne Recital Centre.
The Easter Festival marks a welcome return to the concert stage for the popular and much-loved choir and orchestra, following the delays, postponements and frustrations of two COVID-interrupted years. And the delectable program is nothing short of spectacular!
First on the musical menu is the iconic, towering St Matthew Passion at 2.30pm on Good Friday in the spectacular Elisabeth Murdoch Hall. Then, in the intimate chamber of the Primrose Potter Salon on Saturday from 5.30pm, Loss & Renewal – a tasting plate of Bach’s finest chamber music. Both these concerts will also livestream on the Australian Digital Concert Hall platform.
Finally, on Saturday evening 8pm in Elisabeth Murdoch Hall, Mozart Vespers, Bach Treasures – a delicious, sweet and totally filling final ‘dish’, featuring two of the world’s greatest composers’ greatest works!
The opening concert, under the baton of Melbourne Bach Choir (MBC) founding artistic director Rick Prakhoff, features the MBC Choir & Orchestra led by Australia’s own international Bach doyen and violin virtuoso Madeleine Easton. Featured soloists are Robert Macfarlane, tenor, as the Evangelist; Adrian Tamburini, bass-baritone, as Jesus; and soprano Jacqueline Porter, mezzo-soprano Sally-Anne Russell, tenor Henry Choo, bass-baritones Jeremy Kleeman and James Emerson.
Saturday’s afternoon recital features Madeleine Easton with Rosanne Hunt, cello and Donald Nicholson, harpsichord, playing Bach’s Sonata for violin & harpsichord no.1 in b minor BWV 1014; his Suite for solo cello no.2 in D minor, BWV 1008; and his Sonata for violin & harpsichord no3 in E major, BWV 1006.
The grand finale of this sumptuous Easter feast features Bach’s Suite no.3 in D, his Cantata BWV 66 Efreut Euch Ihr Seelen and Mozart’s Solemn Vespers of the Confessor. Soloists are soprano Lorina Gore, mezzo Shakira Dugan, tenor Timothy Reynolds and baritone Chris Tonkin with the Melbourne Bach Chamber Choir.
The MBC debuted almost 15 years ago with a single performance of the St Matthew Passion. Its stunning success led to the growth of the choir, an expanded repertoire, creation of a chamber choir and an extensive scholarship program (for singers and conductors). It performed annual concerts not just in Melbourne but also in regional centres and toured internationally to China, Germany, Austria and the Czech Republic. Now, after the rude interruption of a COVID-enforced break, the Choir and its star-studded soloists and instrumentalists return! A festive occasion not to be missed!
Melbourne Bach Choir – Rick Prakhoff conductor – presents Easter at Melbourne Recital Centre
- JS Bach – St Matthew Passion: Good Friday 15 April 2.30pm, Elisabeth Murdoch Hall
- Loss & Renewal – Chamber Music of JS Bach: Saturday 16 April 5.30pm, Primrose Potter Salon
- Mozart Vespers, Bach Treasures: Easter Saturday 16 April 8pm, Elisabeth Murdoch Hall
Information & Bookings (concessions and combination discounts apply): www.mbc.asn.au
The Melbourne Bach Choir, formed in 2005 under the baton of artistic director Rick Prakhoff, draws on singers from Melbourne’s extensive choral community. The choir works to achieve fine choral performances and is committed to donating to community aid and charity organizations.
